Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Long Beach, Washington
Long Beach is a city in Pacific County, Washington. Long Beach adopts its own zoning, so inside its limits Long Beach’s rules apply, not the county’s. 8 rules below are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked, most recently on October 24, 2026. Rules for unincorporated land are on the Pacific County page.
Answers from the rulebook for Long Beach
Long Beach’s own rules
Building permitRequired
Erection, movement, additions, and structural alterations of buildings or other structures inside Long Beach city limits.
Permit applications require duplicate scale plans showing the lot, existing buildings, and proposed work.
Commercial-use permit applications must be stamped and submitted by a licensed Washington State architect or registered design professional.
A permit expires if work has not begun within 180 days unless the building official grants written extensions of no more than 180 days each.
A primary-use-structure permit cannot issue until water and sewer connection fees are paid and a side-sewer permit is secured.
permit commencement deadline: 180 days (Written extensions by the building official may be granted for periods no more than 180 days each.)
“without a permit issued by the building official.”
Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)
New construction, remodeling, and repairs inside Long Beach city limits.
The adopted model codes are those approved and adopted by the State Building Code Council except as noted in city code.
The city independently adopts the 1997 Uniform Housing Code, 2009 International Property Maintenance Code, and 1997 Uniform Code for the Abatement of Dangerous Buildings.
For multifamily residential structures with five or more dwelling units, automatic fire sprinklers are required.
“These codes must apply to all new construction, remodeling, or repairs.”
Local zoningPresent (with conditions)
Land and structures inside Long Beach city limits.
Uses and structures must be listed as permitted, accessory, or conditional in the applicable use zone.
Uses lawfully established before the ordinance's effective date remain subject to Title 12, chapter 16 nonconforming-use limitations.
“All land uses and structures not specifically mentioned as a permitted use or structure, accessory use or structure, or conditional use or structure shall be prohibited.”
Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)
Land-use zoning inside Long Beach city limits.
Permitted, accessory, and conditional uses depend on the use zone in which the land, building, structure, or premises is located.
Uses not specifically mentioned as permitted, accessory, or conditional are prohibited.
“the following zoning districts are hereby established in the city:”
Off-grid sanitationLimited
Use of a private septic system for sanitation inside Long Beach city limits.
A septic system is prohibited where city sewer is available.
The city code assigns private-septic-system maintenance responsibility to the property owner.
“Septic systems are not allowed if city sewer is available.”
Mandatory utility hookupWater and sewer (with conditions)
New construction inside Long Beach city limits.
The City Council may grant a connection waiver.
A waiver requires an agreement to connect when service becomes available at the lot and to join a local improvement district if one is formed to serve the property.
Areas not served by city sewer may use a private pressure-system connection only under a sewer connection agreement and its stated conditions.
“All new construction shall be required to connect to the city water and sewer systems”
Permit feesPublished (with conditions)
Building permits inside Long Beach city limits.
The city incorporates Table 1-A of the 1997 Uniform Building Code as amended and current International Code Council Building Safety Journal valuation data.
Fees for work other than new construction and additions, including alterations, remodeling, mechanical permits, and demolition, are established by City Council resolution.
Materials-only valuations are doubled for fee calculation.
Work started before permit issuance incurs an additional fee equal to 100 percent of the building-permit fee.
“The City hereby adopts by reference building permit fees”
Permit processPublished (with conditions)
Building-permit applications inside Long Beach city limits.
The application must include duplicate scale plans and other information lawfully required by the building official.
Commercial-use applications must be stamped and submitted by a licensed Washington State architect or registered design professional.
One plan copy is returned approved or disapproved and the second is retained by the building official.
“All applications for building permits must be accompanied by plans in duplicate, drawn to scale, showing the actual dimensions and shape of the lot to be built upon; the exact sizes and location of existing buildings on the lot, if any; and the location and dimensions of the proposed building or alteration.”
Still unanswered
We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Long Beach or Pacific County directly.
Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Long Beach city limits.
Inspections — Building construction inside Long Beach city limits.
Minimum dwelling size — Principal residential dwellings inside Long Beach city limits.
Minimum lot size — Residential lots inside Long Beach city limits.
Setbacks — Structures in residential districts inside Long Beach city limits.
16 more unanswered
Lot coverage
Building height
Living in an RV
Camping on your land
Tiny homes
Manufactured homes
Accessory dwellings
Who permits septic
Septic permit
Septic inspection
Well permit
Agricultural exemption
Subdividing land
Driveway access
Building in a floodplain
Short-term rentals
Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.
Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Long Beach publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Pacific County’s page lists the county offices to call.
Off-grid gear
Going off-grid in Long Beach means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:
